Your towing rigs and trailers

[Piston]

17000 in a weight distribution configuration, 12000 in a weight carrying configuration.

I didn't know the weight distribution hitch could make THAT much of a difference. 5k lbs is quite a substantial difference.

 

[newbury]

I didn't know the weight distribution hitch could make THAT much of a difference. 5k lbs is quite a substantial difference.

Even on my aging 2002 F350 DRW the factory hitch states 5,000 w/o WD, 12,500 w/ WD. That's a 7,500 lb difference from a base of 5,000.

 

[nikdfish]

5k lb. without WD, 9k lb. with WD per the factory hitch for our 2008 f150...

Nick

 

[PapaPerk]

Shouldn't be I think he has a 13 ram it comes with a class 5 hitch. I think the class 5 is rated 17,500 lbs.

Awesome!

 

[George2615]

Shouldn't be I think he has a 13 ram it comes with a class 5 hitch. I think the class 5 is rated 17,500 lbs.

Just because the hitch may be rated for 17,500 DOES NOT mean the tow vehicle is rated for the same.

 

[KenB2920]

Just because the hitch may be rated for 17,500 DOES NOT mean the tow vehicle is rated for the same.

Very valid point. Now my question is, does the weight distribution make the setup tow more, tow better ( more control), feel more comfortable, or give you a false sense of security as your braking and rig weight is the same? I have never used one and don't know much about them. Are they universal per truck / trailer? For instance my neighbor has one with the same truck as me, but has a cargo trailer and I am have an equipment trailer. Or, if my buddy wants to use my trailer could he use what I buy to fit his ford? (I have a GM).

 

[downsizingnow48]

There is a lot of discussion of WD hitches on the Airstream website. in one thread, at post #69, there is a excel spreadsheet calculator that allows you to plug in your truck and trailer info and it tells you how the tongue weight gets re-distributed when using the WD hitch.

Load distribution hitches-an analysis - Airstream Forums

 

[Fordman1981]

Just because the hitch may be rated for 17,500 DOES NOT mean the tow vehicle is rated for the same.

Here you go. Looks like his truck it rated for 17,540lbs.

 

[3930dave]

Very valid point. Now my question is, does the weight distribution make the setup tow more, tow better ( more control), feel more comfortable, or give you a false sense of security as your braking and rig weight is the same? I have never used one and don't know much about them. Are they universal per truck / trailer? For instance my neighbor has one with the same truck as me, but has a cargo trailer and I am have an equipment trailer. Or, if my buddy wants to use my trailer could he use what I buy to fit his ford? (I have a GM).

A properly adjusted WD hitch does a good job of distributing the trailer load across both your front and rear axles.

Ever drive with a heavy trailer on a regular bumper pull hitch ? Not talking stupid heavy, but just enough to start lightening up the front end of the tow vehicle. If you regularily drive the tow vehicle yourself, you'll notice the difference - steering starts to get light and twitchy on the highway, esp. in heavy cross winds - this is because the tongue weight of the trailer is starting to unload the front axle.

So a WD hitch won't magically transform something that is tow rated for 5,000# into something that will tow 26,000#. What it will do is restore the balance between the front/rear suspension - you get your proper steering and braking response back.

As posted, some factories will typically list a much higher vehicle tow rating for a WD hitch. The key is the hitch has to be installed and adjusted by someone who understands what they are doing, to work properly.

Rgds, D.

 

[ljohnson778]

A properly adjusted WD hitch does a good job of distributing the trailer load across both your front and rear axles. Ever drive a heavy trailer on a regular bumper pull hitch ? Not talking stupid heavy, but just enough to start lightening up the front end of the tow vehicle. If you regularily drive the tow vehicle yourself, you'll notice the difference - steering starts to get light and twitchy on the highway, esp. in heavy cross winds - this is because the tongue weight of the trailer is starting to unload the front axle. So a WD hitch won't magically transform something that is tow rated for 5,000# into something that will tow 26,000#. What it will do is restore the balance between the front/rear suspension - you get your proper steering and braking response back. As posted, some factories will typically list a much higher vehicle tow rating for a WD hitch. The key is the hitch has to be installed and adjusted by someone who understands what they are doing, to work properly. Rgds, D.

Excellent explanation.